The term "Mercyseat" refers to the gold lid placed on the Ark of the Covenant, which was situated in the Holy of Holies within the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. The Mercyseat holds significant theological and symbolic importance in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of the Old Testament sacrificial system and the atonement for sin.

Biblical Description and Construction

The instructions for the construction of the Mercyseat are found in the Book of Exodus. God commanded Moses to make the Mercyseat of pure gold, measuring two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide (Exodus 25:17). It was to be placed atop the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod that budded, and a pot of manna.

Two cherubim of gold were to be fashioned at the two ends of the Mercyseat, with their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover. The cherubim were to face each other, looking toward the Mercyseat (Exodus 25:18-20). This design signified the presence and majesty of God, who is enthroned above the cherubim.

Theological Significance

The Mercyseat served as the focal point of God's presence among His people. It was here that God would meet with Moses and communicate His commandments for the Israelites (Exodus 25:22). The Mercyseat thus represented the divine throne, where God dwelt in the midst of His covenant people.

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial bull and goat upon the Mercyseat (Leviticus 16:14-15). This act of atonement was to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, symbolizing the covering and forgiveness of sin through the shedding of blood. The Mercyseat, therefore, was central to the sacrificial system, highlighting the necessity of atonement and the holiness of God.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the Mercyseat finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, uses the Greek term "hilasterion," often translated as "propitiation," to describe Christ's sacrificial death (Romans 3:25). This term is directly related to the concept of the Mercyseat, indicating that Jesus Himself is the place of atonement, where God's justice and mercy meet.

The author of Hebrews further elaborates on this theme, explaining that Christ entered the heavenly Holy of Holies once for all, not with the blood of animals, but with His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12). Through His sacrifice, Jesus has made a way for believers to approach the throne of grace with confidence, having obtained mercy and grace in their time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Symbolism and Application

The Mercyseat symbolizes God's mercy and the means by which sinful humanity can be reconciled to a holy God. It underscores the gravity of sin, the necessity of atonement, and the profound grace extended through divine forgiveness. For believers, the Mercyseat points to the finished work of Christ, who, as the ultimate High Priest, has made a once-for-all sacrifice, granting access to God's presence and the assurance of salvation.

In Christian theology, the Mercyseat serves as a powerful reminder of God's covenant faithfulness and the transformative power of His grace, inviting believers to live in the light of His mercy and to extend that mercy to others.Mercyseat

(Exodus 25:17; 37:6; Hebrews 9:5) This appears to have been merely the lid of the ark of the covenant, not another surface affixed thereto. (It was a solid plate of gold, 2 1/2 cubits (6 1/3 feet) long by 1 1/2 cubits (2 2/3 feet) wide, representing a kind of throne of God, where he would hear prayer and from which he spoke words of comfort. --ED.) It was that whereon the blood of the yearly atonement was sprinkled by the high priest; and in this relation it is doubtful whether the sense of the word in the Hebrew is based on the material fact of its "covering" the ark, or derived from this notion of its reference to the "covering" (i.e. atonement) of sin.

(Hebrews kapporeth, a "covering;" LXX. and N.T., hilasterion; Vulg., propitiatorium), the covering or lid of the ark of the covenant (q.v.). It was of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, or perhaps rather a plate of solid gold, 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 broad (Exodus 25:17; 30:6; 31:7). It is compared to the throne of grace (Hebrews 9:5; Ephesians 2:6). The holy of holies is called the "place of the mercy-seat" (1 Chronicles 28:11: Leviticus 16:2).

It has been conjectured that the censer (thumiaterion, meaning "anything having regard to or employed in the burning of incense") mentioned in Hebrews 9:4 was the "mercy-seat," at which the incense was burned by the high priest on the great day of atonement, and upon or toward which the blood of the goat was sprinkled (Leviticus 16:11-16; Comp. Numbers 7:89 and Exodus 25:22).

MERCY-SEAT, THE

mur'-si-set (kapporeth; New Testament hilasterion, Hebrews 9:5): The name for the lid or covering of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:17, etc.). The Old Testament term means "covering," then, like the New Testament word, "propitiatory" (compare kipper, "to cover guilt," "to make atonement"). The ark contained the two tables of stone which witnessed against the sin of the people. The blood of sacrifice, sprinkled on the mercy-seat on the great day of atonement, intercepted, as it were, this condemning testimony, and effected reconciliation between God and His people. See ATONEMENT; ATONEMENT, DAY OF; PROPITIATION; ARK OF THE COVENANT. In Romans 3:25, Jesus is said to be set forth as "a propitiation (literally, "propitiatory"), through faith, in his blood," thus fulfilling the idea of the mercy-seat (compare Hebrews 9:5, 7, 11, 12, etc.).

W. Shaw Caldecott

2435. hilasterion -- propitiatory
... of hilaskomai; an expiatory (place or thing), ie (concretely) an atoning victim,
or (specially) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple) -- mercyseat, propitiation. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2435.htm - 7k

Christ's Priestly Office
... Christ is our mercyseat, from which God gives answers of peace to us. (3.) Christ
died, that he might make good his last will and testament with his blood. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/4 christs priestly office.htm

The Blood of the Testament
... the golden pot that had manna and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the
covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 58 1912/the blood of the testament.htm

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
... True, Christ died for our sins as a sacrifice, and as a priest he sprinkleth with
his blood the mercyseat; ay, but here is one that has sinned after profession ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the work of jesus christ.htm

Mercyseat (1 Occurrence)
...Mercyseat (1 Occurrence). Hebrews 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing
the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. (KJV). ...
/m/mercyseat.htm - 9k

Mercy-seat (23 Occurrences)
Mercy-seat. Mercyseat, Mercy-seat. Merdiful . Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews ...
WBS). Mercyseat, Mercy-seat. Merdiful . Reference Bible.
/m/mercy-seat.htm - 16k

Mercy's (2 Occurrences)

/m/mercy's.htm - 6k

Particularly (4 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Hebrews 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat;
of which we cannot now speak particularly. (KJV WBS YLT). ...
/p/particularly.htm - 9k

Cherubims (19 Occurrences)
... Cherubims (19 Occurrences). Hebrews 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing
the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. (KJV). ...
/c/cherubims.htm - 11k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus